-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The simple answer to the question why Pope Francis is headed to South Korea , in the first papal trip to Asia in 25 years , is straightforward . The pope is going to celebrate the sixth Asian Youth Day and beatify 124 martyrs of Korea .

But the more complex answer has to take into consideration the Korean Catholic Church 's unique history and the pope 's theological agenda . These can give us a deeper understanding of why he is making this trip .

While South Korea may not be viewed as an overtly Catholic nation -LRB- compared to the Philippines , the most Christian nation in Asia -RRB- , at least 10 % of South Korea 's population belong to the Church , according to its statistics .

The Catholic Church in Korea enjoys a high level of respect from non-Catholics , maintains good relations with other religious communities , and has a history of positive social engagement for the common good . Pope Francis 's visit will recognize these accomplishments , a move that will not only please Koreans , but hold up their church as a model of evangelization .

Evangelizing in Asia

Since it is Asia that has the greatest potential for the growth of Catholicism , it makes sense to highlight an Asian success story and to recognize the Asian youth who will be called on to continue that growth .

Evangelization is in fact a key concern for Pope Francis . His apostolic exhortation , Evangelii Gaudium , focused on this topic and called for the transformation of the Catholic Church to focus on `` the evangelization of today 's world rather than for her self-preservation . ''

The pope 's concept of evangelization does not focus simply on baptizing new Catholics , but , as seen in the chapter from that exhortation entitled `` The Social Dimension of Evangelization , '' also includes a call for the inclusion of the `` homeless , the addicted , refugees , indigenous peoples , -LSB- and -RSB- the elderly who are increasingly isolated and abandoned . '' Moreover , this pope , while recognizing the importance of ordained clergy , decried `` clericalism '' before the publication of this exhortation , sees the laity as having an active role in evangelization .

The pope 's concerns as expressed in Evengelii Gaudium therefore resonate with the historical accomplishments of the Korean Catholic Church in that it has grown into a relatively large and healthy Catholic community with much of the work of evangelization being conducted by the laity .

It is no accident that during his trip the pope will visit Kkottongnae -LRB- Flower Village -RRB- , a Catholic institution devoted to caring for such marginalized groups as the elderly and the homeless , where he will meet with leaders of the Apostolate of the Laity .

Origins of Korean Catholic Church

The Korean Catholic Church began with the baptism of a Korean scholar named Yi Seung-hun in Beijing in 1784 , who had developed an interest in Catholicism after reading Chinese books on the religion . After his baptism , Yi returned to Korea and began baptizing others , so that there were already 4,000 Catholics there before a missionary -- a Chinese priest named Father James Zhou Wen-mo , himself one of the martyrs to be beatified -- arrived in 1794 .

The Korean state could not tolerate the existence of a foreign religion whose members recognized a deity outside government control and persecuted the new church . Catholics were given the choice of giving up their religion or being sentenced to death , with several thousands choosing the latter and becoming martyrs .

Despite these persecutions , the church managed to survive and rebuild itself multiple times . While foreign missionaries played an important role , much of the work of maintaining the community and spreading the faith was carried out by the laity .

The coming of religious tolerance in the late 19th century led to an increase in the number of Catholics , but it was not until the 1960s that the Catholic Church in Korea began to grow quickly . While that growth has slowed down in recent years , the church is quite healthy , with its approximately five million members , according to the church .

At the same time , it must be stressed that the Korean Catholic Church faces challenges . Growth has declined , and many newly baptized Catholics leave the faith or become lukewarm . Likewise , Korean society has many of the difficulties post-industrial societies in the West face , such as the `` unbridled consumerism '' the pope decried in his apostolic exhortation . It is here that one can see the importance of the martyrs who the pope will beatify . In their stories , one sees Catholics giving up wealth , sex , and even life itself out of their love for others and for God .

The pope will no doubt highlight how their devotion to the faith led to the growth and development of the Catholic Community in Korea , allowing him to echo the themes found in his exhortation . The fact that he will beatify these martyrs in Korea the day after Koreans celebrate their independence from Japan , will not be missed by Koreans .

The pope likely hopes that this recognition , and the teaching opportunity it provides , will renew evangelization in Korea , and through it , the world .

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Pope is to celebrate sixth Asian Youth Day and beatify 124 martyrs of Korea

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Asia that has the greatest potential for the growth of Catholicism

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Korean Catholicism has history of surviving persecution